Letters from Sister Dorothy Gwendoline Howard Elmes, 1941 - 1942 - Part 4

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soon xx didn't even know she had joined up.

If I get time tonight I will copy one of the reports one

of the night orderlies wrote. its absolutely beautiful, but

if you only saw him you would know exactly how

his mental intelligence went.

Sorry Morris isn't looking well. Give him my kind 

regards or love & kisses provide you deliver them.

Poor old Brody fracturing the old arm, there seems

to be a mania for doing that Another one of the kids

here broke her hand playing tennis the other day &

I told you Kath Neuss had to but she had the plaster

removed today.

Talk about tropical neurosis here if any sane person

sad saw us sometimes they would think we were

completely mad. do you remember that invisible

man business the Airforce used to go on with

well they have started it here now; one of the

kids started whistling the dog up & giving it a

bone last night; but believe in one of the Battalion

nurses they started having invisible wife wives; started

introducing them to around & going on with the

usual bunk.

No more of the tripe. Love to all the kids I know.

there was something I wanted to tell Can't think what it was.

Cheerio

Love Buddy.

G Elmes.

NX70526. S/N. G.Elmes

10. A.G.H.

A.I.F.

Malaya

6.10.41

Dear Old Smitty,

Received yours today with relish, have

the night off so thought I would do abit of writing

as its practically impossible to try & write on

duty the brain just goes sodden, normal state

of it lately.

The place has been comparatively pleasant since

I have been on; the first night was rather busy owing

to it being pay day. so naturally a few fights

but beyond a couple of admissions all is well

Believe tonight is going to be rather busy so choose

the right one to have off.

Schuey goes to Singapore on Wednesday so will

miss her for five nights.

Today we had a tennis tournament to celebrate

the opening of our tennis club it was quite

fun but got too dark so wasn't finished

 

2.

So suppose we will finish off tomorrow

It is still objectionably hot, 7 the mosquitoes very

friendly.

Neuss gave me a very nice linen tennis dress

today as she has got a bit plump for it the 

poor kid has a broken hand at the moment.

biffed it on the roof of a car when her hat blew off.

Do you still train V.A.D.'s thought that Nixon girl

started when I was there.

Sorry to hear Nell has whooping cough; its funny

there seems to be a different epidemic every year.

How did Belinda lose all that weight. I should

get thin as crawl up over 600 steps every night.

that is only going up not coming down again.

beyond that I don't seem to do anything else.

& sleep like a log all day.

By the way you don't seem to tell me what

you want for Christmas and yet have the 

impudence to write & ask for a hint of my needs

Gosh this is uninteresting.

Might give you a resumé of the day or nights

Crawl out of flea bag at 3.30 a or pm feed

the face on tea, cake or bread & butter Smoke

a Cigarette (several no doubt).

3

Tell Schuey how delightful it would be for a xx

walk; get [[abroad?]]; so read for a bit longer.

Suggest she is a lazy dog & evide eventually

Shower the body go to the lavatory dress & proceed

for a short leisurely walk: come back & wash the

superficial moisture off in other words sweat:

proceed to get ready for mess which b means applying

cape & veil try & get away before I get attacked with

lipstick powder, "they are trying to beautify the unbeautiful.

usually don't succeed.

After mess wander back & collect sufficient goods for

the nights work.

Do rounds in the wards read various reports.

it takes rather a long time as usually to be sociable

have a cup of tea in every ward to show there 

is no animosity: wander back to Shuey's ward

and talk for a little while, usually wander

round again before supper. we all congregate for

supper, eat anything the pantry orderlies can

procure; tinned stuff & toast.

Start the report about 2. A.m. which takes some time

a various bed bits. finish by four have morning

tea with Schuey. talk and anticipate a final round

& help were & when necessary: Call matron at 7 Am

& have a friendly chat. Some times that is: feed

the face 9.30. bath & retire to bed.

Hope nothing else gets hacked out of my letters.

Love Bud [*G.Elmes*]

[*Schuey

is adding a small

foot note but don't

take any notice of the

fruity remarks, it's for

her foul body that wants it -

Have suggested life-bouy with no

effect.*]

NX70526 S/N G.Elmes

10. A.G.H.

A.I.F Abroad.

28.9.41

Dear Old Smitty,

No news at the moment haven't heard

from you for over a fortnight so am irritated got a

letter from Joan about a week ago & that's all

I have had; but still shouldn't growl.

Was going to have a game of tennis this afternoon

but find out that we aren't allowed to play as the

English matron doesn't like tennis on Sunday but

what it's got to do with us I don't know (beyond 

its their court, and I can't go out because I am on

call & nothing ever happens.

Been On second thoughts we chanced a game &

have just played three sets, most enjoyable although

rotten tennis, but we need the exercise.

Been beastly hot again the last few days although

it's nothing like the heat at home it's the monotony

of the place, will enclose a few more maps.

not interesting but am sick of them lying 

about.

The lights have fused so am in darkness again

2

Go on night duty on Wednesday night, in Charge

of  the place. Goodness knows what sort of mess

I will make of it. Schuey was supposed to but 

refused on grounds of not having been on before

matron didn't consult me so it wasn't much use

saying anything Anyway have a marvellous

g crowd of kids on with me; think I will be

allowed to do theatre if there are any cases at

night.

Went to the pictures again on Thursday night

Saw the Mortal Storm" worth seeing all propogander

but very well acted.

Schuey & I have arranged to have Wednesday off so

will [[now?]] spend our usual day at the swimming pool.

Lost my pen I had presented to me before leaving

home "Gosh" I was annoyed bought myself

one for 5/- which seems quite good.

How is Dotty getting on do you hear from her at all

is Joy with her too.

Give old Birdy my kind regards, kick in the

pants & have good intentions of writing when

on night duty.

Must go & shower before it gets too dark so

will finish this later if the lights go on.

29.9.41

Got two letters from you today so life is pretty

good. Young Chivy must have looked sweet

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that style of her dress would suit her.

Thanks very much for sending the "Kotex" hope it

was done up in a firm parcel as would hate to

collect them from the Orderly Room all in pieces

Anyway will be delighted to receive same. Also

my suspender belt; don't doubt will get more than

a few wears and of same.

Smitty you silly ass why should you spend your

money on me anyway under clothing and tale

b to prevent the heat rash would be always welcome

Anyhow my pants are too far off to be kicked

& will be too old and decrepit by the th time the war is over

No wonder you were distended after eating all that

food at your picnic greedy little tripe hound.

Schuey & I have just been into town to have our

new uniforms fitted they look quite nice, specially

Schueys as her's is heavy linen, mine is some

sort of flimsy looking material but it covers

the most important portions of the body.

Haven't seen [[Alek]] Crawford but may see him

if I can get to Singapore three of us might get

five days leave in the middle of November. wasn't

very keen on going but everyone else is, no one

liked one kid very much & she had no one to

go with so I am. She is very kind hearted but man

mad.

Sorry Nell & Cliff have been sick give them my

Love.

4.

When are you anticipating seeing the principal

Matron. to try & get attached to the 10th as

a reinforcement, they might let you do it

Sorry Matron doesn't appreciate my form of burial tell

her I have changed my mind & would prefer to

be blown up c̄ a bomb less after effects. only

the meal ticket to retrieve.

You must be getting rather partial to middy's now, nothing

like a little practice

Well Cheerio old hound,

Give my love to Ron, McCorman? and Matron

tell her I will write to her one when I am

on night duty, as if I have any luck shouldn't

be busy but you know my usual Jonah like

luck.

Love Buddy

G Elmes.

 

Dear Smithy,

Another handy thing for Buddy would

be a pot of 'Arrid', I have to sleep

near her & what with this tropical

heat, when the wind blows my

way its not so good you understand

don't you? even your best friend wont tell you

all that. Yours very gratefully. Schuey.

NX70526 S/N G. Elmes.

10. A.G.H

A.I.F

20.9.41

Dear Old Smithy,

Sorry you are still suffering from

general depression, as far as that goes so are

we why & don't know most likely the effects

of our leave. Still and I think this continual

heat is a bit monotonous it doesn't vary vary

day or night.

We had quite an enjoyable day last yesterday

spent most of it out at the swimming pool.

n water in it because it was being cleaned

out, but it was nice sitting there, did a spot

of shopping in the morning do you fancy

anything particularly for Christmas something

personal or table linen both available so

let me know. Ended up by going to the

pictures "He Stayed for Breakfast' years 

old but quite amusing & finished up by

having steak & eggs. most enjoyable a pleasant

for the figure, quite which at the moment

is stationary as far as slope goes.

Glad to Margaret Macknight has her infant

expect they were abit disappointed it was a

boy.

2.

Thank you for the information regarding Staff

it certainly has increased since I left. which

is nearly a year, it doesn't seem half as long

as that in some ways.

Do you remember Tait who was at the Showground

just before I left She developed an appendix a few

days after she arrived there anyhow. She

is with us now for a short time as a matter

of fact would not have known her again

its rather funny she met Billy Jones in Sydney

and is now a great friend. Billy I believe

has joined up or is just waiting for a medical exam

doubt if she will pass though. She also got

to know Skeel quite well, and her boy friend

is over here a chap by the name of Tommy Arthur

but didn't know if that is the one that she

wrote to Matron about being "the most wonderful

man in the world."

22.9.41

Sorry I didn't finish this the other night but

the other kids came in & started talking. Schuey

& I have just been in to town didn't buy any

thing but took some grey material to be

made up into an out door uniform, we

were them instead of our suits for going out.

Now, they are opened necked, short sleeved with

x brown shoulder tabs with our Australia on them